Commentary One of the most powerful forces in the world today, disruptive new technology, will destroy all of the hopes that rode into space this morning on the rocket that launched the first of two NBN National Broadband Network satellites toward geostationary orbits.

Opinion In some quarters, including the top levels of the Australian government and its opposition, the activities of American space and electric car entrepreneur Elon Musk would be seen as a deadly threat to the NBN and Big Coal.